Terrorism. Scourge of our Time

Having been born in war time, I was glad growing up that the dreadful WW II was over. Food again plentiful, no checking under the beds before getting in. Since WWII, there have been countless other wars through out the world. Our beautiful planet ravaged by people unhappy with their lot, displaced and outraged or just determined to inflict their beliefs on others. Religion, oil, greed, politics have caused people to take up arms against one another. This has caused another breed of dissident to raise their heads, the Terrorist.

Terrorism is rife these days,there is hardly a country untouched by people unknown or proud supporters of their own cause, creating death, destruction and mayhem on others, innocents, children, women, animals, are all victims of these insidious attackers. The first time I realised the enormity of this problem was on a visit to London in the eighties. Walking through an area of the City, London's Financial district, all the windows of the high rise office blocks were smashed and boarded up. Huge areas were affected. This act was perpetrated by the IRA.

The very name Al Qaeda is enough to cause alarm and fear. Terrorism is everywhere, Piracy is happening in many areas of the high seas, Somalia, the South China Sea and areas of the Caribbean are no go areas for sailors. The Middle East is in Turmoil with no end in sight.

The name Terrorist goes back a long time to the French Revolution but actual acts of Terorism started way back when Jews who aided the Roman invaders were killed by other Jews, Guy Fawks was a more recent tterrorist when his Gunpowder Plot was foiled in time to save the life of King James. Recent terrorist organizations are too numerous to name, ETA in Spain, The IRA in The UK, Hamas, Al Qaeda, , to name but a few. Many people have real problems to face in life and have been sorely wronged, others merely think that their religion or way of life is superior to other people's way of thinking. Cowardice seems to be the mark of the terrorist. The latest point blank shooting of a 14 year old girl in Pakistan is the lowest of the low deeds by these fanatics.

Things only get worse. The two Chetchein louts who killed 3 people and maimed many more are examples of mindless terror with home made bombs. Why attack the Boston marathon? Sad.

Terrorism affects us all. When we travel we are all treated like potential terrorists. No one knows where they will strike next. Sadly, no end appears in sight.

When I was a child, I read the book, "The Water babies" written by Charles Kingsley in 1885. I read about Mrs Doasyouwouldbedoneby. If people abided by this golden rule, the world would be a happier place. There is so much turmoil and dissent now that it is impossible to think of a time when we can let down our guard and travel and go about our business freely anywhere in the world. This is a very sad conclusion but our beautiful planet has been polluted by man in so many ways that it is probably too late to stop the mayhem. Wikileaks may have done more good than harm by bringing information about governments out into the open.

There are so many ready and eager recruits eager to join a cause which appeals to them. We are destined to a future looking over our shoulders to see who is about to do us harm. The violence spawns more violence until we are in a whirlpool that can only spiral downwards. Who can guess where the future lies for us and our children. It is said that religion divides men. Perhaps in the future people will not be brainwashed into following their own brand of religion with the mayhem it causes. Who knows where the future will take us. The internet has caused the World to shrink with social sites linking people around the world. Shakespeare had it right in Shylock's speech "If you prick us, do we not bleed?" We are all the same under the skin!

Two years on from writing this article, the situation has not improved . Afghanistan, Pakistan are descending into a sad internal war. Will there ever be peace in our time?